A Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline LLC (KMLP) proposal for a project to modify its existing pipeline system to serve the Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Louisiana has been approved by FERC.

In an order issued Monday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted certificate and abandonment authorizations to KMLP, which plans to offer 600,000 Dth/d of firm service on a north-to-south path of its system [CP17-22]. The pipeline wants to abandon and remove facilities at an existing meter station and replace them with a larger meter station at the same site. The facilities would specifically serve the Sabine Pass Expansion Project.

The KMLP project would also require constructing a tap and lateral to connect to the Sabine Pass terminal; modifying three existing delivery interconnects; constructing additional compression at a previously certificated compressor station; constructing header pipelines to connect the compressor station to three existing pipeline interconnects that KMLP proposes to modify; as well as abandoning the old meter station and its replacement.

KMLP originally asked FERC to issue an order approving the Sabine Pass Expansion Project by the end of February 2018 to place the project in service by April 1, 2019. However, work on train 5 at Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC’s (SPL) export terminal has progressed more quickly than anticipated, prompting KMLP’s request to FERC.

SPL has an agreement for KMLP to supply gas for train 5 beginning in 2019, “contingent on the facilities requested in this docket being available for service,” KMLP said in its Nov. 13 letter to FERC. With the Commission’s authorization in hand, KMLP plans to begin construction in January.

FERC staff issued an environmental assessment for the project in July, concluding that cumulative impacts on resources would not be significant. The 90-day authorization deadline was Oct. 26.